South Padre Island, Texas


According to militarynous, South Padre Island, Texas is an island city located in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of southern Texas. The island is a popular tourist destination, offering white sand beaches and a variety of activities for visitors. Geographically, South Padre Island is approximately 34 miles long and 0.5 miles wide at its widest point. It is connected to the mainland by two bridges and has a total land area of about 10 square miles. The climate on South Padre Island is generally warm and humid year-round, with temperatures ranging from the high 70s in winter to the mid-90s in summer.

The history of South Padre Island dates back to 1759 when Spanish settlers first arrived on the island. Since then, it has served as a fishing village, military base, port town and popular tourist destination. South Padre Island was incorporated as a city in 1953 and today has a population of around 4,000 people.

Politically, South Padre Island is part of Cameron County and operates under a council-manager form of government with an elected mayor and six council members. The economy is primarily based on tourism but also includes fishing, shrimping, some light industry and service businesses such as restaurants and shops.

Schools on the island are operated by the Point Isabel Independent School District which serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade with one elementary school (K-5), one middle school (6-8) , one high school (9-12).

The most recognizable landmark on South Padre Island is Queen Isabella Causeway which stretches five miles across Laguna Madre connecting it to Port Isabel on mainland Texas. Other popular sites include Sea Turtle Inc., Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark and Andy Bowie Park where visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as beach volleyball or kayaking along Laguna Madre Bay.

South Padre Island, Texas

Population: 2,422. Estimated population in July 2020: 2,588 (+6.9% change)
Males: 1,289 (53.2%), Females: 1,133 (46.8%)

Cameron County

Zip code: 78597

Median resident age: 46.7 years
Median household income: $45,417
Median house value: $175,400

Races in South Padre Island:

  • White Non-Hispanic (75.0%)
  • Hispanic (22.8%)
  • Other race (2.8%)
  • Two or more races (1.2%)
  • American Indian (0.8%)
  • Black (0.7%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: English (16.6%), Irish (12.6%), German (11.6%), United States (5.8%), French (4.8%), Italian (4.0%).

Land area: 1.8 square miles

Population

South Padre Island, Texas is a popular tourist destination located in the Gulf of Mexico. It is known for its white sand beaches, beautiful sunsets and crystal clear waters. The population of South Padre Island has grown significantly over the past decade due to its popularity as a vacation destination. According to the US Census Bureau, the population of South Padre Island was 2,816 in 2010 and had grown to 3,048 by 2018. This growth can be attributed to an increase in tourism as well as an influx of people who have chosen to make South Padre Island their home.

The majority of the population are people who are either employed in or retired from seasonal tourism-related jobs such as hotel staff, restaurant workers and beach vendors. In addition to this, there is also a growing number of permanent residents who enjoy living on this beautiful island year-round. These residents come from all walks of life and range from young professionals to retirees looking for a peaceful place to call home. The island also attracts many college students during Spring Break due to its lively atmosphere and nightlife scene. The town has plenty of restaurants, bars and shops for visitors and locals alike to enjoy year-round.

For population 25 years and over in South Padre Island

  • High school or higher: 92.4%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.5%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 16.7%
  • Unemployed: 3.4%
  • Mean travel time to work: 22.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in South Padre Island town

  • Never married: 22.9%
  • Now married: 56.0%
  • Separated: 1.6%
  • Widowed: 4.6%
  • Divorced: 14.9%

13.7% Foreign born (8.9% Latin America, 1.6% Asia, 1.6% North America, 1.5% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: +749 (+44.8%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near South Padre Island:

  • BROWNSVILLE SURGICAL HOSPITAL (about 23 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX)
  • VALLEY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 23 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX)
  • BROWNSVILLE MEDICAL CENTER (about 28 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to South Padre Island:

  • BROWNSVILLE/SOUTH PADRE ISLAND INT’L (about 23 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX; Abbreviation: BRO)
  • VALLEY INTL (about 34 miles; HARLINGEN, TX; Abbreviation: HRL)
  • MC ALLEN MILLER INTL (about 74 miles; MC ALLEN, TX; Abbreviation: MFE)

Other public-use airports nearest to South Padre Island:

  • PORT ISABEL-CAMERON COUNTY (about 12 miles; PORT ISABEL, TX; Abbreviation: PIL)
  • CHARLES R JOHNSON (about 36 miles; PORT MANSFIELD, TX; Abbreviation: T05)
  • MID VALLEY (about 56 miles; WESLACO, TX; Abbreviation: T65)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to South Padre Island:

  • THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT BROWNSVILLE (about 28 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 6,044)
  • TEXAS SOUTHMOST COLLEGE (about 28 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,556)
  • TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE-HARLINGEN (about 37 miles; HARLINGEN, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,167)
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN (about 72 miles; EDINBURG, TX; Full-time enrollment: 9,651)
  • SOUTH TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 75 miles; MCALLEN, TX; Full-time enrollment: 7,142)
  • TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY-KINGSVILLE (about 107 miles; KINGSVILLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,860)
  • TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI (about 111 miles; Corpus Christi, TX; Full-time enrollment: 5,282)

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